Two Kinds of Crib Service

A Crib Service for the Sunday before
Christmas (Advent 4)

Many thanks to the Reverendd Dr David Pym for
the structure of this service, which is essentially a simplified and
family-friendly carol service. If you think that even the six carols which
are sung during this service will be too much for the children then you
could always shorten them by omitting some verses.

Summary

The
Nativity story is told with the help of crib figures which are blessed
and then taken, in turn, from the altar to a crib scene.

Carols
and readings are interspersed between the journeys of the
figures.

People

An adult
to lead the blessing and teaching.

Children
(as many as you have in church) to take the crib figures to the
stable.

Four
adults or confident readers to share the narration and
readings.

Props

Carol
sheets, but not service sheets are needed. Print out five copies of the
Service Outline, for the leader, narrator and readers.Bethlehem Carol Sheets are available
from BibleLands

Crib figures: animals (donkey, cows,
and so on), Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, Shepherds, Lambs, Wise Men.
Ideally they should not be too fragile, as one is bound to be dropped
occasionally.

A stable
scene: this will often come with crib figures, but otherwise it can be
assembled quite simply from a cardboard box on its side, with a smaller
box for the crib, and some hay. Having turned the box on its side,
leave the back of the stable intact (the front will be open, formed by
what was the open top of the box) but for extra visibility remove a large
rectangle from each side of the stable, so that you are left with an
open-sided structure. You could also
glue some straw to the roof, as if it were thatched.

Preparation

Select
readers and the narrator either at the beginning of the service or
earlier.

The crib
figures are placed on the altar before the service.

Children
are chosen to carry the crib figures as the service progresses. It
will therefore be useful to count the children at the start of the
service, so that you know roughly how many you will invite to carry each
crib figure, to ensure that all are involved.

Liturgy

An outline of the service, for the leader, narrator and readers, can be
found here.

A Crib Service for Christmas Eve

Many thanks to the Reverend Philip Francis
for this service.

Summary

The
Nativity story is told with the help of crib figures which are blessed
and then taken, in turn, from the altar to a crib scene.

Carols
and readings are interspersed between the journeys of the
figures.

People

An adult
to lead the blessing and teaching.

Children
(as many as you have in church) to take the crib figures to the stable,
and to dress up as participants in the Nativity story.

Three
adults or confident readers to share the narration and
readings.

Props

Service
sheets and Carol sheets.Bethlehem Carol Sheets are available from BibleLands

Crib figures: animals (donkey, cows,
and so on), Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, Shepherds, Lambs, Wise Men.
Ideally they should not be too fragile, as one is bound to be dropped
occasionally.

A stable
scene: this is formed using the altar table, without the usual
coverings. A piece of material draped over the top and hanging
down the back forms the back of the stable, with open sides and front. If
your altar table has cross pieces between the legs, a piece of wood can
be laid on these to raise the scene off the floor. Straw can be added to
form the basis for the crib scene, with a manger and any other suitable
decorations. This scene then remains under the altar table throughout the
Christmas period, as a focus for worship.

Preparation

Select
readers either at the beginning of the service or earlier.

The crib
figures are handed out to the children as they arrive in
church.

Costumes
are handed out at the same time. If you don't have many children
in church then the same ones can wear the costumes and carry the figures.
Otherwise you can share out the roles so that every child is involved, at
least in being part of a group that is taking up the figures.

Liturgy

An outline of the service, for the leader, narrator and readers, can be
found here.